In this weeks parsha we find that Moshe's father-in-law comes in like an outside consultant and observes how is his son-in-law is running his business – that everyone comes to Moshe to get his advice for their problems, and to have him arbitrate their disagreements. Moshe sits a whole day taking care of Bnei Yisroel. Yisro's evaluation is that you are not running your business the right way. You cannot do it all on your own. You need to cut down your work load, you must delegate responsibility to others. Choose people to help you and only get involved in the big issues they cannot resolve. This way will you cease being overwhelmed and be able to lead.
The question is obvious. Why didn't Moshe Rabbenu perceive what was so obvious to his father-in-law? Moshe was the leader – he cared for the Jewish people back in Mitzrayim and here in the Midbar; he was their advocate before Hashem after the Cheit Ha'egel.
Similarly by the Aseres Hadibros, Bnei Yisroel came to Moshe and said we cannot bear to hear Hashem speaking directly to us -you go hear it and you tell us Hashem's words. Moshe complained to the Bnei Yisroel “you made me weaker – wasn't it proper that you listen directly to Hashem?” Moshe envisioned that Bnei Yisroel could hear the Aseres Hadibros directly from Hashem. After the first two, the Bnei Yisroel said we can't bear it and Hashem agreed with them. Again – Moshe was the leader of Klal Yisroel, didn't he properly evaluate how they are and that they cannot accept the Aseres Hadibros directly from Hashem. They were Moshe's flock – how could a leader not know his flock? One of the explainations is that Moshe did not make a mistake, not by the Aseres Hadibros, nor by Yisro. At Matan Torah, Klal Yisroel was together with Moshe and Moshe uplifted them. Moshe wanted to elevate the Yidden to see G-dliness as he does. He brought them up to his level, he energized the neshomos of Klal Yisroel so they could receive the Torah the same way he can. The Jews wanted to receive the Torah according to their capacity, on their level. That's what Hashem agreed to because for the Torah to be internalized into Klal Yisroel it must be on their level. That's why Moshe Rabbenu said you weakened me – for he had to lower himself to the level of Klal Yisroel and give over Torah on a level on which Klal Yisroel could absorb it.
After Yom Kippur Moshe had to start teaching Torah to the Jews. Who else could be the one to give it over to them with enthusiasm and excitement, for the Shechina was speaking through the throat of Moshe Rabbenu. Since Moshe was on the level of seeing G-dliness he wanted to instill this feeling into Klal Yisroel as seeing something affects an individual greater than hearing it. So the study of Torah would permeate Klal Yisroel. Yisro came from his point of view: that as long as the B'nai Yisroel surrounds Moshe Rabbenu his radiance changes them (and they are like a chossid face to face with the Rebbe). That's when you teach them the Torah. But when you judge them, you have to lower yourself to the level where they are. When they leave Moshe Rabbenu how will their daily life be affected?
Moshe Rabbenu saw that when Bnei Yisroel comes to him anything extraneous disappears, and the judgment will be a true judgment. In his perspective Moshe was right. He thought he would lead Bnei Yisroel into Eretz Yisroel. Before the sin of the spies they were to go directly to Eretz Yisroel and Moshe would be the one to lead them and to build the Bais HaMikdosh with them. There would be techias hameisim and he would be with Klal Yisroel forever. But Hashem agreed with Yisro because Hashem knew that Moshe would not be the one to bring Klal Yisroel into Eretz Yisroel. To teach and guide them Klal Yisroel needed a court system set up prior to going into Eretz Yisroel
The concept of appointed leaders to teach and judge had to be established by Moshe Rabbenu, therefore, in the beginning of the forty years, Hashem had Moshe establish through his ruach hakodesh leaders who would serve as judges so that in later generations when a question is asked, the response is a true Psak from Torah because the leaders have smicha, going back through the generations to Moshe Rabbenu.
Based on Likutei Sichos, Vol. 16 Tu b'Shevat, 5735/1975